WQNS (105.1 FM, "Rock 105.1") is a

mainstream rock Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada. Format background Mainstream rock stations represent the middle ground between classic rock and active rock ...

radio station in Asheville, North Carolina.

History

WQNS signed on in 1979 at 104.9 FM as WQNS-FM (WQNS stood for...Waynesville's Quiet New Sound) and played

easy listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...

music. When the station sold, it turned country and was branded Q-105 "Always Your Country". In 1990, WQNS/ WHCC owner KAT Communications of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina filed for

Chapter 11 Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, wheth ...

, but the stations were doing well and no changes were planned. On October 28, 1997, the format changed to

Classic rock Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, prima ...

and country music moved to WHCC (now WMXF). On September 20, 1999, WQNS was paired with

WQNQ WQNQ (104.3 FM) is a United States radio station serving the Asheville, North Carolina area. The station currently has a Top 40 (CHR) music format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The station is known on the air as "Star 104.3." WQNQ is lic ...

(formerly

hot adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet ...

WMXF), and the two stations became "Rock 104". Clear Channel bought the three stations in 2001. In 2005, the simulcast was broken off after WQNQ's signal was upgraded and changed back to

Hot Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet ...

, but 104.9's Classic Rock format remained. On January 10, 2014, WQNS completed its move to

Woodfin, North Carolina Woodfin is a town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,123 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is named for Nicholas Washington Woodfin, a renowned lawye ...

by moving its tower into Asheville, North Carolina and moving from 104.9 FM to 105.1 FM and rebranded as "Rock 105.1". The

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdicti ...

issued the license for the move to Woodfin and 105.1 FM on June 25, 2014.

Previous logos

(WQNS's logo under previous 104.9 FM frequency)

References

External links

Official Website
* QNS Mainstream rock radio stations in the United States IHeartMedia radio stations {{NorthCarolina-radio-station-stub